A lot o' gelato

June 01, 2010M Social Media Team

One might be tempted to conclude that gelato is just a fancy Italian way of saying ice cream. Well, there are a few things you should know about gelato that make it different (and oh yes, more enticing) than ice cream.

Gelato means "frozen" in Italian and despite what many people may think or say, gelato has nothing to do with gelatin. And while gelato is similar to ice cream, you'll notice some differences when you're lucky enough to enjoy a taste. Gelato is creamier than ice cream, which is interesting since gelato actually has less cream in it than ice cream. How then, could it possibly be creamier? It has to do with the way in which gelato is made. Gelato is churned at a slower speed than ice cream, resulting in a much denser product because not as much air is whipped into the mixture. (Gelato contains about 25 to 30 percent air, while ice cream can contain as much as 50 percent air which is also known as "overrun.")

In addition to getting more deliciousness and less air for your buck, gelato is usually stored and served at a slightly warmer temperature than ice cream. Since gelato is not quite completely frozen, you get a singular texture that coats your mouth differently also resulting in that extra creaminess. The really good news? Since there's less cream in gelato there's also less fat. Getting a creamier more delectable frozen (well, almost frozen) treat that also has less fat is probably one of the greatest things we've ever heard.

But let's get down to business. Here at M Resort we make our gelato fresh every day. Several times a day in fact depending on your appetite! We make approximately 1,500 gallons of gelato every month, which means 700 gallons of milk, 400 gallons of cream, 100 gallons of egg yolk and 1,200 pounds of sugar! Flavors? Lots. There's of course the traditional chocolate, vanilla and strawberry which are the most popular, but come on folks! There's a quote that's attributed to a lot of different people (Former President Jimmy Carter, Will Rodgers, Mark Twain, etc.) that goes something like, "Why not go out on a limb? That's where all the fruit is." And when it comes to gelato at M, well it's not just fruit, but nuts, cookies and even booze! There are 18 different flavors of gelato for you to try and with the summer heat on the way, there's no better time to come down and get started. You'll find our delicious gelato in Baby Cakes as well as Studio B Show Kitchen Buffet.